29 April 2013

The
book blurb is the second most important thing you will write (the first
being your book).Think of it as the
shop window for your story.It will tell
readers what they might expect when they read your book so, make it enticing by telling enough about your story, but not too much.

The elements of your book blurb

Approximately
250 words max - three or four paragraphs depending on the length of your book.

Start with a hook.

Introduce one, perhaps two characters, and the setting.

Present the main conflict.

Don't reveal too much! Leave your reader desperate to read your book.

Now,
let's face it, compressing your entire manuscript’s story into three or four short paragraphs is a daunting task. You have to make every word count. So how do you tackle this?

My
first suggestion is to look at the blurbs of the books on your
bookshelves at home. Also, the blurbs of books on Amazon and Goodreads,
perhaps. Just to get a feel for what is needed.

You
can choose a particular spot in the manuscript to focus on as I did in the
blurb for Once Upon A Lie.I centred on
the victim's death.

Little
did, businessman and entrepreneur, Michael Rossi know that the telephone call
he answered on that fateful Friday would be the catalyst for his death, and the
subsequent recovery of his body from the waters of Sydney Harbour the following
morning.

Or
you might choose some words from your manuscript spoken by a particular
character that will hook your reader.

Alternatively,
you can start by introducing your protagonist, the setting, and his/her quest
as I did in The Celtic Dagger.

When university professor Alex
Wearing is murdered in his study, Detective Inspector Alistair Fitzjohn is
assigned to the case.A detective from
the old guard, whose methodical, painstaking methods are viewed by some as archaic,
Fitzjohn begins his relentless pursuit for the killer, seeing Alex’s brother,
James, as a key suspect in his investigation.

However you choose to start, make sure your last
paragraph leaves your reader wanting to read your book.Here are a few examples of last paragraphs in your book blurb.

Unaware
of her nephew’s fate, Esme Timmons retires for the evening, unsuspecting of the
events about to unfold; events that will, ultimately, expose a grim lie, buried
deep in the past.

or

Feeling compelled to clear
himself of suspicion, James starts his own investigation and finds himself
immersed in a web of intrigue, ultimately uncovering long hidden secrets about
his brother’s life.Is this why Alex was
murdered?

Your
main purpose in writing a blurb for your book is to convince readers that it's a book that will provide them with what they are looking for be it mystery, romance etc., and that, according to the blurb they have just read, your book is going to do just that. But there is one more thing that is very important and that is - remember to be honest in what you
say.Don’t write anything in your blurb
that is not in your book.

This self publishing pocket guide takes you through what you need to do
in order to self publish your book.From
information on formatting your manuscript, deciding on a cover and book blurb
to decisions on price, ISBN, and choice of categories, it also includes helpful
web site links plus marketing and author platform ideas to enable you to start
your self publishing journey with confidence.

22 April 2013

This is the first in a series of posts on
self publishing an eBook.Right from that
rush of exhilaration when your manuscript is finally complete to it appearing
on-line for sale as an eBook.But how do
you get from here to there?

The ingredients needed to self publish your
eBook are:-

1 manuscript

1 catchy Blurb

1 fantastic cover

1 ISBN number (optional)

The method:-

Yes, it is like a recipe.You have your ingredients ready, but what do
you do with them to create your eBook?

Firstly, your manuscript needs to be
formatted for an eBook.

Write a blurb that will draw readers in.

If you are unable to do so yourself, you need to find someone to create a cover.

Then there's the ISBN. Do you want to buy your own?

Decide where you are going to publish your eBook.

And if you live outside the US, give some thought to whether you will apply for an ITIN number.

Let’s start with number 1. Formatting your manuscript for an eBook.You have two choices.You can format the manuscript yourself or pay
to have someone do it for you.

Formatting your manuscript yourself

If you decide to give it a try, I
can recommend The Smashwords Style Guide by Mark Coker.This is the guide I used to learn how to do
my own formatting.It’s FREE and can be
downloaded from Smashwords at http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/52.

It’s a step by step guide so you might want
to give it a try before opting to have someone else do the formatting for you.If for nothing else than you will learn a
little more about the ins and outs of Word.Just make an extra copy of your manuscript and go for it.

And yet another book that I have just come across and I'm sure will be helpful. Building Your Book For Kindle. Among other things, it gives information on formatting and is also FREE. It can be downloaded from here Amazon.

Having someone else format your manuscript
for you

If, however, you would sooner have it done
for you, there are people out there only too willing to obliged.I have listed a few links below and if
you care to surf the web, you will find many more such sites to choose from.

Please note, I have not used the following
formatting services myself.

Whether you are formatting your manuscript yourself, or having someone do it for you, you must remember to include
the all important Title Page, Copyright, ISBN (if you have bought your own) Licence Note and your Blurb
to the front of your manuscript.

To the
back, add About the Author and
include a photo, followed by Other Books
by this Author if you have any, and last but not least, add information on where
your readers can contact you.Twitter,
Facebook, Blog etc.

Get All Your Self Publishing Information In One Pocket Guide

This self publishing pocket guide takes you through what you need to do
in order to self publish your book.From
information on formatting your manuscript, deciding on a cover and book blurb
to decisions on price, ISBN, and choice of categories, it also includes helpful
web site links plus marketing and author platform ideas to enable you to start
your self publishing journey with confidence.

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About Me

Mystery writer and author of The Celtic Dagger, Murder At The Rocks,Once Upon A Lie, Lane's End, Deadly Investment, Poisoned Palette and The Fourth String, all part of the Fitzjohn Mystery Series.I live in Australia, am an avid reader, love the theatre, travelling, photography and delving into my family's genealogy.